Have u guys been blessed so far.
00:00:11.90\00:00:15.19
Amen. Our speaker this
afternoon is Vincent Samuelson,
00:00:15.22\00:00:20.19
he comes to us all
the way from Australia.
00:00:20.22\00:00:23.92
And Vincent not only runs
two businesses but he is a--
00:00:23.95\00:00:29.84
an active lay member of
his church and has a passion
00:00:29.87\00:00:33.84
for seeing Muslims have clear
picture of a biblical faith.
00:00:33.87\00:00:39.77
And so my prayer this afternoon
is that we pray for Vincent
00:00:39.80\00:00:43.46
as he delivers the word of life
to us this morning as well as
00:00:43.49\00:00:47.50
prefer ourselves that we will
pay attention and give him our
00:00:47.53\00:00:51.86
undivided attention as he
delivers the word of life to us.
00:00:51.89\00:00:54.57
And so yeah, that just
our prayer and there won't be
00:00:54.60\00:00:59.62
any
distractions during this time
00:00:59.65\00:01:01.48
and that we can
really hear those words.
00:01:01.51\00:01:04.02
Go ahead and bow
your heads with me
00:01:04.05\00:01:06.45
and kneel if
possible, where you are at
00:01:06.48\00:01:08.55
as we pray for
Vincent this morning.
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Heavenly Father,
we thank you Lord,
00:01:16.06\00:01:19.68
for the experiences
we've had this far at GYC.
00:01:19.71\00:01:24.36
For the messages that
we've heard for the appeals
00:01:24.39\00:01:27.25
that we've heard
and the decisions
00:01:27.28\00:01:29.64
that we've made and
Lord we so thankful for
00:01:29.67\00:01:33.38
Your goodness to
us and the good gifts
00:01:33.41\00:01:36.88
that You desire to
give to us to, Lord.
00:01:36.91\00:01:39.26
Lord, we just pray
for our Brother Vincent
00:01:39.29\00:01:42.23
this morning as he
speaks, we pray that
00:01:42.26\00:01:44.48
you would hide
Him behind your cross.
00:01:44.51\00:01:46.74
That he will not been seen--
his words we're not be heard
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but truely You would be
seen and heard through him.
00:01:49.90\00:01:52.23
And Lord, I just pray You would
00:01:52.26\00:01:54.89
put a hedge of
heavenly protection around
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this auditorium this morning
and that's that no evil forces
00:01:57.48\00:02:02.60
or distractions would come in
00:02:02.63\00:02:04.84
but that we would
give you attention
00:02:04.87\00:02:07.40
and that we would hear
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and we would
learn and we would grow.
00:02:08.76\00:02:11.07
Lord, send Your spirit
here to be with us this morning
00:02:11.10\00:02:13.32
and we thank You for this things
in Jesus name we pray, amen.
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We will have a
special music at this time.
00:02:19.96\00:02:22.34
Amen. Good afternoon, GYC.
00:05:55.20\00:06:00.39
It's long life from Australia
but it's especially long life
00:06:01.68\00:06:04.65
from that back into
here, I'll tell you.
00:06:04.68\00:06:07.87
Open your Bibles
with me to John Chapter 3,
00:06:08.92\00:06:12.44
we're going to
read verse 5 and verse 8
00:06:12.47\00:06:15.28
and then I'm going to pray.
00:06:15.31\00:06:16.67
John 3:5, Jesus speaking.
00:06:18.72\00:06:21.96
He says, "Most
assuredly, I say to you,
00:06:21.99\00:06:25.70
unless one is born again,
00:06:25.73\00:06:28.76
he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
00:06:28.79\00:06:31.54
And in verse 8 Jesus
goes on to explain little bit
00:06:31.57\00:06:34.47
about that rebirth
and part of that rebirth
00:06:34.50\00:06:38.65
"The wind blows where it wishes,
and you hear the sound of it,
00:06:38.68\00:06:43.41
but you cannot tell where it
comes from and where it is goes.
00:06:43.44\00:06:47.35
So is everyone who
is born of the Spirit."
00:06:47.38\00:06:52.21
As I share my testimony as I've
been ask to do this afternoon.
00:06:52.24\00:06:56.05
In case any of my
words are misunderstood
00:06:57.44\00:06:59.89
it needs to be very clear
that, the things that I share,
00:06:59.92\00:07:03.50
the things I've been
part of but these are
00:07:03.53\00:07:06.12
things of the spirit has done.
00:07:06.15\00:07:08.15
This is the way
the spirit has blown
00:07:08.18\00:07:11.27
you could say in my life.
00:07:11.30\00:07:13.26
And it's my
prayer this afternoon
00:07:13.29\00:07:15.66
that the spirit might
blow through me into you
00:07:15.69\00:07:19.20
so that we can go into the world
00:07:19.23\00:07:22.08
and the winds of revolution
that the Holy Spirit always
00:07:22.11\00:07:26.78
wants to accomplish
through us would begin to blow
00:07:26.81\00:07:30.28
with great force than
they have in recent times.
00:07:30.31\00:07:33.91
I am gonna kneel,
you can stay seated,
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I am going to pray.
00:07:35.71\00:07:37.03
Father in Heaven,
Lord, You are a great God
00:07:38.79\00:07:41.46
and You gave us
a great commission.
00:07:41.49\00:07:44.16
But you never gave
the great commission
00:07:44.19\00:07:47.42
without having a
promise of Your spirit
00:07:47.45\00:07:49.60
right there beside it.
00:07:49.63\00:07:52.07
And so Lord as I
share my interactions
00:07:52.10\00:07:56.04
and my involvement
in that great commission
00:07:56.07\00:07:58.06
that has brought such joy,
such fulfillment to my life.
00:07:58.09\00:08:02.64
I pray that Your
spirit would move into
00:08:02.67\00:08:04.60
the lives of each
person hearing here,
00:08:04.63\00:08:06.94
through the
internet and in future places
00:08:06.97\00:08:09.71
through future mediums.
00:08:09.74\00:08:11.45
And just pray Lord, that
You would use this message
00:08:11.48\00:08:14.90
as I've been praying for months
00:08:14.93\00:08:17.11
to revive a missionary
culture in our church.
00:08:17.14\00:08:20.97
May it start here at GYC,
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we pray this in
Jesus name, amen.
00:08:23.37\00:08:25.68
Imagine with me, that
you are in the Middle East.
00:08:27.04\00:08:30.68
I am not gonna name the country
because I wish to return there.
00:08:30.71\00:08:34.22
Imagine you are
in the Middle East
00:08:35.37\00:08:38.12
and you're down the
street shopping for the men
00:08:38.15\00:08:43.51
it's you down
the street shopping
00:08:43.54\00:08:45.10
because in this particular
country it's definitely Islamic.
00:08:45.13\00:08:50.08
So Islamic that the
woman don't go out in public
00:08:50.11\00:08:52.76
and do business transactions.
00:08:52.79\00:08:54.61
So you've been
sent down the street
00:08:54.64\00:08:56.64
by your lovely wife to get
the groceries for the house.
00:08:56.67\00:09:01.31
You're in the grocery
store and you're looking
00:09:01.34\00:09:05.46
past the foreign
script at the pictures
00:09:05.49\00:09:08.22
on the packaging because
you can't read the script
00:09:08.25\00:09:10.24
you definitely not going to
read the ingredients list here.
00:09:10.27\00:09:13.91
And as you're concentrating
making your decisions
00:09:13.95\00:09:16.68
in the foreign store your
attention is grabbed by a voice,
00:09:16.71\00:09:22.50
one of the few people
that you know in this valley.
00:09:22.53\00:09:25.43
Says your name and
since we've got five minutes
00:09:28.15\00:09:31.05
to be at the
madras or the school.
00:09:31.08\00:09:34.50
You've been invited to speak
to all the staff and students.
00:09:34.53\00:09:39.89
Now this town that
you're in the Middle East
00:09:39.92\00:09:42.17
just happens to be one
of the foremost centers
00:09:42.20\00:09:46.73
for Islamic
education in the world.
00:09:46.76\00:09:50.22
The leading Imam
attached to the school
00:09:50.25\00:09:53.04
is ranked frighteningly
close to the top of the list of
00:09:53.07\00:09:57.24
500 most influential
Muslims in the world.
00:09:57.27\00:10:00.69
And so as you
travel by a motorbike
00:10:00.72\00:10:03.04
at great speeds to the seminary
00:10:03.07\00:10:05.64
where you gonna share with
the students and staff there.
00:10:05.67\00:10:08.37
You speak to the--
this messenger that's been
00:10:10.25\00:10:13.26
send to get you and who
will also be your translator
00:10:13.29\00:10:16.27
and he say what is it that
I am expected to speak about?
00:10:16.30\00:10:20.78
And he says calmly,
whatever's on your heart.
00:10:22.22\00:10:25.80
See Arab hospitality
doesn't always have punctuality
00:10:27.92\00:10:32.25
and it this situation he didn't
have communication and planning.
00:10:32.28\00:10:36.69
And so tongue-in-cheek
I though to myself thanks.
00:10:36.72\00:10:41.99
Just about to speak with
800 plus of the most influence
00:10:42.02\00:10:46.31
or the people would
become future leaders
00:10:46.34\00:10:48.85
in the world of Islam
and you've just help me
00:10:48.88\00:10:52.23
gain perfect clarity on
what it is that I'm to say.
00:10:52.26\00:10:55.62
What would you
say in that situation?
00:11:01.00\00:11:04.39
What would you do?
00:11:04.42\00:11:06.81
You arrived and you're
ushered into the front row
00:11:06.84\00:11:09.16
and you sat down just
moments before you hear
00:11:09.19\00:11:13.32
your English name midst
all of the Arabic introductions
00:11:13.35\00:11:16.16
and you know that
it's your time to speak.
00:11:16.19\00:11:18.81
You go up to the
front with your translator
00:11:18.84\00:11:22.49
and you sit on the
carpet like they do.
00:11:22.52\00:11:27.06
On you right is
one of these most
00:11:27.09\00:11:31.31
influential
Muslims in the world.
00:11:31.34\00:11:33.94
On your left is your translator
and he given a microphone.
00:11:33.97\00:11:36.98
You haven't had time to
plan what you're gonna say.
00:11:38.58\00:11:42.02
You only just had time to pray.
00:11:42.05\00:11:45.19
What would you say in this
situation, what would you do?
00:11:45.22\00:11:48.08
Not sure, which
makes me more nervous
00:11:49.46\00:11:51.42
speaking in front of 800 Muslims
00:11:51.45\00:11:53.18
so speaking here
today with five minutes
00:11:53.21\00:11:55.86
planning or six months planning.
00:11:55.89\00:11:58.45
But here I am
this is a situation
00:11:58.48\00:12:00.76
that my wife and I
found ourselves in last year.
00:12:00.79\00:12:04.52
We had the
pleasure and the opportunity
00:12:04.55\00:12:06.21
to travel to the Middle East
00:12:06.24\00:12:08.37
and we were doing
humanitarian work.
00:12:08.40\00:12:11.51
But this is a
situation we found ourselves
00:12:13.46\00:12:15.71
in because
whatever we do in our lives
00:12:15.74\00:12:19.39
we've decided to do
with the intention of sharing
00:12:19.42\00:12:22.87
wherever and whenever we can.
00:12:22.90\00:12:24.44
Now, I've asked you what
you would do in the situation
00:12:27.09\00:12:31.56
and many of you are
probably saying I don't know.
00:12:31.59\00:12:34.21
I just hope I don't find myself
in that situation tomorrow.
00:12:34.24\00:12:38.26
Well, eight years ago
I would--I had no idea
00:12:38.29\00:12:43.63
what to do in that situation,
00:12:43.66\00:12:45.82
you couldn't have convinced me
00:12:45.85\00:12:47.74
by any measure that I would find
myself in that sort of scenario.
00:12:47.77\00:12:51.70
Eight years ago on the 11th
of December, I was baptized.
00:12:52.88\00:12:56.87
That was the same day
that I graduated from Arise.
00:12:59.44\00:13:02.91
And eight years ago,
00:13:05.86\00:13:10.30
I began to live the sort of
life that Christ wants us to.
00:13:10.33\00:13:16.26
I've gave my life to Him
00:13:16.29\00:13:17.47
and to the
service of His church.
00:13:17.50\00:13:20.09
But I hadn't been
raised an Adventist.
00:13:28.25\00:13:31.69
How does a
non-Adventist end up Arise
00:13:31.72\00:13:34.71
being baptized
on graduation day?
00:13:34.74\00:13:37.27
Well, I was raised in home in
Australia with a great family.
00:13:37.30\00:13:40.70
Not a Christian
family even per-say
00:13:40.74\00:13:43.27
definitely not
an Adventist family.
00:13:43.30\00:13:45.96
But a great family
and one of the reasons
00:13:47.00\00:13:50.66
I say this is because my parents
00:13:50.69\00:13:52.37
saw the value of raising us
00:13:52.40\00:13:54.08
in a country
leaving type situation.
00:13:54.11\00:13:57.45
And until you've grown up in
that lived in that environment
00:13:57.48\00:14:00.23
you don't realize the impact
00:14:00.26\00:14:01.83
that has on
molding your character
00:14:01.86\00:14:04.21
and I am thankful
for up that bringing.
00:14:04.24\00:14:06.05
This up bringing along
with influence of my grandmother
00:14:08.82\00:14:11.47
gave me a great
love for the outdoors
00:14:11.50\00:14:13.38
and for nature and
that was one of my passions
00:14:13.41\00:14:15.39
as young person
before I was an Adventist.
00:14:15.42\00:14:18.13
Now my first exposure
to missions which has later
00:14:19.24\00:14:21.79
become a passion in my life
00:14:21.82\00:14:24.08
and specifically
missions to the Muslim world.
00:14:24.11\00:14:27.73
And when I say
missions just so it's understood
00:14:28.74\00:14:31.80
by yourselves and if
a Muslim ever ends up
00:14:31.83\00:14:35.66
watching or hearing this.
00:14:35.69\00:14:37.45
Missions to me is giving people
00:14:37.48\00:14:41.48
a clear
revelation of biblical faith,
00:14:41.51\00:14:46.18
a clear understanding
so that they can make
00:14:46.21\00:14:49.48
decisions for themselves.
00:14:49.51\00:14:50.95
My first exposure to mission
was at a catholic high school.
00:14:53.58\00:14:57.41
The homilies that we
given their by the priest
00:14:57.44\00:15:00.57
made an impression
upon me about service
00:15:00.60\00:15:02.53
and I even responded
to one of the appeals
00:15:02.56\00:15:04.40
one day to go to
the pacific islands
00:15:04.43\00:15:06.41
and help this Catholic order
00:15:06.44\00:15:07.87
that my school belong
to, to do mission work.
00:15:07.90\00:15:12.30
And confusingly my
interest was never followed up.
00:15:12.33\00:15:15.89
But I graduated
from catholic high school
00:15:17.53\00:15:19.33
and three
months after graduating
00:15:19.36\00:15:20.84
I begin backpacking trip
like many Australians do.
00:15:20.87\00:15:23.95
We grow up seeing all
these famous sites on television
00:15:23.98\00:15:26.62
but they just so far
away, so we finish school
00:15:26.65\00:15:28.99
and we book a
ticket, we go overseas
00:15:29.02\00:15:30.61
and we stay out of the
country as long as we can
00:15:30.64\00:15:32.42
to get our moneys
without the ticket.
00:15:32.45\00:15:34.76
So for 11 months I travel
through the UK, Scandinavia,
00:15:34.79\00:15:39.90
Europe, and North
Africa just to see the world.
00:15:39.93\00:15:44.52
But it didn't take long
before I grew tired of seeing
00:15:44.55\00:15:48.09
this famous sight
and that famous sight
00:15:48.12\00:15:50.16
taking a picture and
getting on the next train
00:15:50.19\00:15:53.01
and the same
thoughts that had plagued me
00:15:53.04\00:15:54.83
through high
school about futility.
00:15:54.86\00:15:58.76
See, I though a lot
like the Book of Ecclesiastes
00:15:58.79\00:16:01.35
reads even
though I hadn't read it.
00:16:01.38\00:16:05.04
And I begin to yearn to
do something more meaningful
00:16:05.07\00:16:08.65
and so I started to
look for opportunities
00:16:08.68\00:16:10.94
to volunteer in
environmental courses.
00:16:10.97\00:16:13.38
But I never found
something that fit because
00:16:13.41\00:16:15.12
I don't wanted you to pay for
the privilege of volunteering
00:16:15.15\00:16:18.52
because that's how they would
raise money for their projects.
00:16:18.55\00:16:21.65
So I didn't get
involved in service then
00:16:21.68\00:16:24.88
but once I returned to Australia
00:16:24.91\00:16:29.82
my uncle who had recently
become a Seventh-day Adventist
00:16:29.85\00:16:32.96
invited me to go in
mission trip with him.
00:16:32.99\00:16:35.97
And it was a mission
trip organize through OCI,
00:16:36.00\00:16:39.47
who have booth and I
encourage you to visit there
00:16:39.50\00:16:42.18
because that was a
pivotal point in my life.
00:16:42.21\00:16:45.05
The young
people that I met there
00:16:46.56\00:16:49.17
were the sort of people
that I've been looking for.
00:16:49.20\00:16:52.14
People that had meaning in life
00:16:52.17\00:16:54.19
and people that
were helping others.
00:16:54.22\00:16:56.51
Disinterested benevolence
spirit of prophecy calls it.
00:16:56.54\00:17:00.67
And when I spent time
with these people in Africa
00:17:00.70\00:17:03.68
seeing them serve I intend
just to be there for three weeks
00:17:03.71\00:17:06.43
and then take off traveling
around the rest of Africa
00:17:06.46\00:17:08.85
just using these Christians
in essence to have a safe place
00:17:08.88\00:17:11.76
to go back to if
anything went wrong.
00:17:11.79\00:17:14.01
But God had other plans.
00:17:14.04\00:17:15.96
I ended up driving from Zambia
00:17:15.99\00:17:17.52
where the mission trip
was all the way to South Sudan
00:17:17.55\00:17:19.79
to set up an
agricultural project
00:17:19.82\00:17:21.49
with Jabel Busl
and Caleb Knowles
00:17:21.52\00:17:25.62
who run Frontline Builders.
00:17:25.65\00:17:27.55
And from the
early age they had been
00:17:29.00\00:17:30.84
in the mission field supporting
global mission pioneers
00:17:30.87\00:17:34.58
and frontline workers
who were planting churches
00:17:34.61\00:17:36.81
but didn't have facilities and
they would go along and help.
00:17:36.84\00:17:39.38
And in this
incidence we're going to
00:17:39.41\00:17:40.85
set up an agriculture project.
00:17:40.88\00:17:43.00
And the impact
that those guys my age
00:17:43.03\00:17:47.61
selflessly serving
in Africa had upon me
00:17:47.64\00:17:50.16
was profound
because they would rise
00:17:50.19\00:17:52.75
early each morning
and they sit by the fire.
00:17:52.78\00:17:55.14
We were sleeping
on a concrete floor
00:17:55.17\00:17:56.74
in a church that they had built.
00:17:56.77\00:17:59.29
They would sit by the
fire and they would read
00:17:59.32\00:18:02.86
and seeing them serve others
developed in me an interest
00:18:02.89\00:18:07.91
and what it was that
made them do what they did.
00:18:07.94\00:18:10.10
And I began to ask questions
and they began to point me
00:18:10.13\00:18:15.60
towards Arise
thinking my interest
00:18:15.63\00:18:17.60
was enough that I could
handle as a non-Adventist
00:18:17.63\00:18:20.95
going to a Bible
college of that nature.
00:18:20.98\00:18:24.67
Now before that
trip, before I would finish
00:18:24.70\00:18:28.60
back packaging in
Europe I had one experience
00:18:28.63\00:18:30.62
with Muslims in
the North of Sweden.
00:18:30.65\00:18:35.06
And I had arrived
in a train station
00:18:35.09\00:18:37.80
the train was late and I
missed my connecting bus.
00:18:37.83\00:18:41.20
And I was just
planning to sleep because
00:18:41.23\00:18:43.50
I was on shoestring budget
in the train station there.
00:18:43.53\00:18:46.32
But there was a problem
there was three Algerians
00:18:46.35\00:18:48.82
that were in the train
station and they asked me
00:18:48.85\00:18:51.94
where I was going to sleep.
00:18:51.97\00:18:53.75
Now they spoke
Swedish and Arabic
00:18:53.78\00:18:55.55
and I only spoke English.
00:18:55.58\00:18:56.83
So just through gesturing
we had this conversation
00:18:56.86\00:18:59.49
that I was gonna
sleep in here they said
00:18:59.52\00:19:01.94
no this closes at 9 o'clock.
00:19:01.97\00:19:04.57
I said we'll all sleep outside
and they just flat out refused
00:19:04.60\00:19:07.67
to accept that because those
several feet of snow outside.
00:19:07.70\00:19:10.95
That wasn't an
issue because I had been
00:19:10.98\00:19:12.66
camping around the place
00:19:12.69\00:19:13.97
and I had all the
necessary equipment
00:19:14.00\00:19:15.72
but in their hospitality
that was just unacceptable.
00:19:15.75\00:19:18.93
So they convinced me to
follow them to their apartment
00:19:18.96\00:19:21.84
and this is in the
year 2003, post 9/11 world.
00:19:21.87\00:19:27.31
So as I follow these
three North African Muslims
00:19:27.34\00:19:31.32
to their place, I am thinking
00:19:31.35\00:19:33.68
this is the
stupidest thing I've even done.
00:19:33.71\00:19:36.33
And I am sizing them up thinking
00:19:38.06\00:19:40.88
I've got everything on my
back my passport, my money,
00:19:40.91\00:19:44.40
my food, my clothes everything
that I have here in Europe.
00:19:44.43\00:19:48.19
And they could easily pull me
in and take my bag, push me out.
00:19:48.22\00:19:52.41
These are the thoughts
that I had but as soon as
00:19:52.44\00:19:54.46
we enter their
home they treated me
00:19:54.49\00:19:57.29
with the hospitality
that none of us deserve.
00:19:57.32\00:20:00.96
That fresh hot Arabic
bread, a warm bed, a hot shower.
00:20:00.99\00:20:08.78
And when their brother
came home who did speak English
00:20:08.81\00:20:11.75
we begin to
converse about many things
00:20:11.78\00:20:13.76
and finally in the
wee hours of the morning
00:20:13.79\00:20:16.62
while the
midnight sun was still up.
00:20:16.65\00:20:19.21
I said I am going to
sleep don't you guys ever sleep?
00:20:19.24\00:20:22.03
And they said
we're waiting to pray.
00:20:22.06\00:20:24.54
And I asked if I
could watch that.
00:20:24.57\00:20:27.52
And I sat down
in their prayer room
00:20:27.55\00:20:29.27
and pick the only
place that I shouldn't sit
00:20:29.30\00:20:31.79
and they ask me to
move because they didn't
00:20:31.82\00:20:33.35
want to be praying towards me.
00:20:33.38\00:20:34.84
And I learned that lesson there.
00:20:37.20\00:20:39.28
And as I watch them pray in
the early hours of the morning
00:20:41.20\00:20:44.63
and they did that because
their prayer time are set
00:20:44.66\00:20:47.25
by the solar cycle
and if the midnightsun
00:20:47.28\00:20:50.11
they had to be up it was
about two in the morning.
00:20:50.14\00:20:53.54
Now, after
watching that I went to bed
00:20:53.57\00:20:56.29
and left early the next
day to get my bus out of there.
00:20:56.32\00:20:59.87
But that left
deep impression upon me
00:20:59.90\00:21:03.56
and I believe the
Lord use that experience
00:21:03.59\00:21:06.60
and impressions and experiences
00:21:06.63\00:21:08.30
the interactions
I had with Muslims
00:21:08.33\00:21:09.94
in North Africa
in Egypt and Morocco
00:21:09.97\00:21:11.96
traveling around
as an 18-year-old.
00:21:11.99\00:21:14.19
In Egypt I was
there for three weeks
00:21:14.22\00:21:16.23
with my 16-year-old brother.
00:21:16.26\00:21:18.40
And we were just free
and enjoying a company
00:21:18.43\00:21:20.87
and seeing the sites
but that put within me
00:21:20.90\00:21:25.13
an interest in the Muslim world
00:21:25.16\00:21:27.61
and the Lord
started to prepare a worker
00:21:27.64\00:21:30.92
before I had even
given life to Him for a work
00:21:30.95\00:21:33.08
that desperately needs workers.
00:21:33.11\00:21:36.34
And so the Lord had
been moving in my life
00:21:36.37\00:21:40.41
even before
Arise but it was Arise
00:21:40.44\00:21:43.90
that I got into the scriptures
00:21:43.93\00:21:47.68
and I saw that
full picture of Christ
00:21:47.71\00:21:51.41
and I've gave my life
to Him and to His church.
00:21:51.44\00:21:54.37
Now what I didn't
realize when I made a decision
00:21:54.40\00:21:57.56
to a attend Arise on a
concrete floor in Africa
00:21:57.59\00:22:00.85
when I was in this
delirious fever of malaria.
00:22:00.88\00:22:04.53
So I understand when
Pastor Shin saying about
00:22:04.56\00:22:06.68
that mental clarity you get
when you in the malaria fever.
00:22:06.71\00:22:11.21
I decided to get to
Arise not knowing what it was.
00:22:14.65\00:22:17.53
I thought it was four months
00:22:17.56\00:22:20.38
going from
Genesis to Revelation.
00:22:20.41\00:22:22.15
So it's quite
surprise when they said
00:22:22.18\00:22:24.20
in the third week we
would be going door knocking.
00:22:24.23\00:22:27.18
I hadn't signed out for that.
00:22:27.21\00:22:28.52
I had never received a personal
Bible study at that point.
00:22:28.55\00:22:32.31
Little own given
one but I found myself
00:22:32.34\00:22:34.51
on the doors in
Michigan looking for people
00:22:34.54\00:22:37.59
that I could give
Bible studies too.
00:22:37.62\00:22:40.20
And there is a principal
here that I don't want to miss
00:22:40.23\00:22:42.32
and it something that I see
00:22:42.35\00:22:43.46
all the way through my
experience with Christ.
00:22:43.49\00:22:45.87
When you get
involved you get equipped.
00:22:48.29\00:22:50.93
When you get
involved you get prepared.
00:22:50.96\00:22:53.41
The interactions
in the relationships
00:22:55.99\00:22:58.13
that I've had with
Muslims in the interfaith work
00:22:58.16\00:23:01.68
that I've been
involved in knocking on doors
00:23:01.71\00:23:05.20
and giving Bible studies
00:23:05.23\00:23:06.90
before I had ever
received Bible study personally.
00:23:06.93\00:23:10.71
The Lord taught me what
I needed as I needed it.
00:23:10.74\00:23:14.12
If you sit on the sidelines,
00:23:14.15\00:23:16.73
saying when I am ready
I'll go, you'll never go.
00:23:16.76\00:23:20.36
As soon as you go you
will find that the Lord
00:23:20.39\00:23:23.28
takes you through
'A' to get you to 'B'
00:23:23.31\00:23:25.92
and once you've done 'B'
He will open a opportunity 'C'
00:23:25.95\00:23:28.87
and you'll be prepared
for that because if it.
00:23:28.90\00:23:31.30
And that was my
experience in the Middle East
00:23:31.33\00:23:34.09
when I am sitting there
next to these prominent scholar
00:23:34.12\00:23:37.72
with all of these
future leaders of Islam
00:23:37.75\00:23:40.35
and you want to say because I
got involved at the beginning.
00:23:40.38\00:23:45.68
Do what is at hand
and the Lord will open up
00:23:45.71\00:23:48.79
avenues for you to do things
that you would never imagine
00:23:48.82\00:23:51.38
yourself doing and
that's the abundant life
00:23:51.41\00:23:53.42
and that's the joy of the Lord
00:23:53.45\00:23:56.13
that He is inviting us
into is the sharing experiences.
00:23:56.16\00:24:00.25
Again at Arise
took a class with AFM
00:24:02.22\00:24:05.51
and they did this illustration
where they divided the class up
00:24:05.54\00:24:08.30
into all the
unreached people groups.
00:24:08.33\00:24:11.11
And at the end
of that illustration
00:24:11.14\00:24:13.94
we could say how many
Muslims were in the world
00:24:13.97\00:24:15.72
by the class members
that were standing over here
00:24:15.75\00:24:17.96
and all the Buddhist over here.
00:24:17.99\00:24:20.04
And they said which
people group would you go to
00:24:20.07\00:24:22.89
and instantly without thinking
00:24:22.92\00:24:24.89
I just thought I
would go to the Muslims.
00:24:24.92\00:24:27.33
And is because
of those experiences
00:24:27.36\00:24:29.15
before Arise
that I came to that.
00:24:29.18\00:24:32.61
Now wasn't until my
second year of Bible work
00:24:33.97\00:24:36.48
that another Bible worker
another Australian and myself
00:24:36.51\00:24:40.66
we've started to talk
because he was continually
00:24:40.69\00:24:42.48
running into Muslims
as he went door-to-door.
00:24:42.51\00:24:45.96
And we were curious how to share
00:24:45.99\00:24:48.56
our faith in a
clear way with the Muslim.
00:24:48.59\00:24:51.78
And as we started to
ask around we found that
00:24:51.81\00:24:54.54
there was this
peculiar disinterest
00:24:54.57\00:24:57.71
in apathy towards the subject.
00:24:57.74\00:25:01.53
And it sadly a pattern
that I have noticed is that
00:25:01.56\00:25:05.26
as Adventist we
are so enthralled
00:25:05.29\00:25:08.89
with the signs of the times
00:25:08.92\00:25:10.64
in Matthew 24
and studying the news
00:25:10.67\00:25:13.85
and seeing the fulfillment
of the signs of the times
00:25:13.88\00:25:16.45
and sharing them with people.
00:25:16.48\00:25:17.76
Sending emails to each other
00:25:17.79\00:25:19.15
about the latest
article what the Pope's doing.
00:25:19.18\00:25:22.67
That we forget to get involved,
that we neglect to get involved
00:25:22.70\00:25:26.64
in the one sign of the time
00:25:26.67\00:25:30.58
that we can have
anything to do with.
00:25:30.61\00:25:32.97
And that is Matthew
24:14, where it says
00:25:33.91\00:25:38.15
"This gospel of the kingdom will
be preached in all the world
00:25:38.18\00:25:41.00
as a witness and
then the end will come."
00:25:41.03\00:25:44.40
That's our business, that's
what we've been call to do.
00:25:44.43\00:25:47.85
And so let's get
involved in that.
00:25:47.88\00:25:50.53
And as we get
involved in that the character
00:25:50.56\00:25:54.00
that you need to
get through those
00:25:54.03\00:25:57.32
other signs of the
times that are coming,
00:25:57.35\00:25:59.20
that are upon us now,
that are gonna intensify
00:25:59.23\00:26:01.77
closer towards the end
that's where you develop
00:26:01.80\00:26:04.55
that character is
when you participate
00:26:04.58\00:26:06.41
in the one sign of the
time you've got anything
00:26:06.44\00:26:09.16
to do with that you
can influence in anyway.
00:26:09.19\00:26:13.23
So with this lack of instruction
00:26:13.26\00:26:15.53
we were finding in
the Adventist community
00:26:15.56\00:26:17.47
who lived amongst these Muslims
00:26:17.50\00:26:19.37
and you had just never
thought that it would be
00:26:19.40\00:26:21.91
part of Matthew 28
or Revelation 14:6-7
00:26:21.94\00:26:26.49
that the gospel should
go to the Muslims as well.
00:26:26.52\00:26:30.09
We thought the best way for us
to learn how to reach a Muslim.
00:26:30.12\00:26:34.98
How to communicate
clearly what the Bible says
00:26:35.01\00:26:37.62
about the character of God
and why we should relate to Him.
00:26:37.65\00:26:41.67
We used to go to mosque
00:26:41.70\00:26:43.46
and so after weeks of prayer
we begin to go to a mosque.
00:26:43.49\00:26:48.10
One day a week, it was our
one day off as Bible workers
00:26:48.13\00:26:52.00
and we prayed before
we went the first time.
00:26:52.03\00:26:55.78
We just open the phonebook
00:26:55.81\00:26:56.92
and found a mosque and we went.
00:26:56.95\00:26:59.25
And we prayed that we
meet the right person.
00:26:59.28\00:27:03.20
And our first
experience in mosque was this,
00:27:03.23\00:27:06.68
the first person we
meet was answer to that pray.
00:27:06.71\00:27:10.32
He made us feel
welcome. He asked us who were.
00:27:10.35\00:27:13.44
We said we're
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:27:13.47\00:27:15.20
He had never heard of that.
00:27:15.23\00:27:18.29
And as we started to explain
00:27:18.32\00:27:19.90
some of the few things that
we knew that we had in common
00:27:19.93\00:27:23.25
he looks out and he
says, so you are Muslim.
00:27:23.28\00:27:29.23
We said, well, no, we
are Seventh-day Adventist.
00:27:29.26\00:27:32.35
But he toured us
through the mosque,
00:27:32.38\00:27:34.67
he is a kind of man you would
pay good money to be a grader.
00:27:34.70\00:27:39.08
He gave us a tour of the mosque,
00:27:39.11\00:27:42.05
he explain the
services we went through it.
00:27:42.08\00:27:45.16
And before we left
that day he made sure
00:27:45.19\00:27:47.35
that we meet all of the elders
and the Imam of that mosque.
00:27:47.38\00:27:52.27
And once again as you
do in the Muslim world
00:27:52.30\00:27:55.61
we ended up
sitting on the carpet
00:27:55.64\00:27:57.97
with all the
ladies of this community
00:27:58.00\00:28:00.27
and he rehearsed that
conversation that we had
00:28:00.30\00:28:03.10
when we first
walked into the mosque
00:28:03.13\00:28:04.74
in front of all these ladies.
00:28:04.77\00:28:07.13
And they would say hold
on, why do you not eat pork
00:28:07.16\00:28:10.54
and why do you
abstain from alcohol
00:28:10.57\00:28:13.20
and where do you get this belief
in the judgment and creation?
00:28:13.23\00:28:17.15
And we shared with them
00:28:17.18\00:28:18.21
the each of our
beliefs comes out of the Bible.
00:28:18.24\00:28:21.51
And that was surprising to
them because of the example
00:28:21.54\00:28:24.04
on the
demonstration of biblical faith
00:28:24.07\00:28:26.75
that they seen in
the rest of Christianity.
00:28:26.78\00:28:30.14
And guess what they
said? You are good Muslims.
00:28:30.17\00:28:36.06
You're better
Muslims than many of those
00:28:36.09\00:28:38.41
that come to
worship at this mosque.
00:28:38.44\00:28:41.54
And so that was our
first experience with Muslims
00:28:41.57\00:28:44.11
knowing nothing more
then what you know right now
00:28:44.14\00:28:49.10
about sharing your
faith with the Muslim.
00:28:49.13\00:28:52.31
Another experience that we had
00:28:52.34\00:28:53.67
and this was the straw
that broke the camel's back
00:28:53.70\00:28:55.96
so to speak where we
transition from one day a week
00:28:55.99\00:28:59.84
in that last half of my
second year of Bible working
00:28:59.87\00:29:02.60
into full time
interfaith work in this area.
00:29:02.63\00:29:07.05
And we went to
the largest conference
00:29:07.08\00:29:11.82
in North America for Muslims.
00:29:11.85\00:29:13.47
Tens of thousands of
Muslims gather there once a year
00:29:13.50\00:29:19.56
and have something
very similar to GYC.
00:29:19.59\00:29:21.71
Workshops, prayer
rooms, plenary sessions
00:29:21.74\00:29:26.82
and as we got to know
people in the exhibit area,
00:29:26.85\00:29:33.19
they got to know
us and we had this
00:29:33.22\00:29:34.67
Euro Muslim
conversation many times.
00:29:34.70\00:29:37.54
And some of them
saw an opportunity
00:29:37.57\00:29:40.62
that if we could
just happen to run into
00:29:40.65\00:29:43.47
one of their most
prominent speakers
00:29:43.50\00:29:45.96
that there is good
chance we could become Muslim.
00:29:45.99\00:29:48.59
And so they made sure that
we ran into him in the isles
00:29:48.62\00:29:52.82
and we had a
conversation with him
00:29:52.85\00:29:54.65
and he ended up running late
00:29:54.68\00:29:56.38
for the plenary
session that he was to deliver
00:29:56.41\00:29:59.00
before tens of
thousands of Muslims
00:29:59.03\00:30:00.93
and many more
through television.
00:30:00.96\00:30:04.97
And when he stood
up the front to speak
00:30:05.00\00:30:07.66
he shared that he
just had conversation
00:30:07.69\00:30:09.75
with two
Seventh-day Adventist brothers.
00:30:09.78\00:30:13.57
And that we were
brothers in his mind
00:30:13.60\00:30:15.42
against a common enemy
and that enemy is evil.
00:30:15.45\00:30:20.33
And when my student colleague
and I heard that we thought
00:30:20.36\00:30:23.46
if these are the
kind of responses
00:30:23.49\00:30:25.25
that we can get
from one day a week
00:30:25.28\00:30:27.68
or one day off as Bible workers
00:30:27.71\00:30:29.30
what could we achieve if
we would do this fulltime?
00:30:29.33\00:30:33.61
And so we began by
faith-- interfaith ministry
00:30:33.64\00:30:41.61
and I was involved in
that for going on six years
00:30:41.64\00:30:46.93
just until September last year
when I move back to Australia.
00:30:46.96\00:30:50.98
And one of the
experiences that I had
00:30:51.01\00:30:54.68
during these interfaith work was
to go and live with 50 Muslims
00:30:54.71\00:30:58.90
for a period of two months was
in Arabic language intensive,
00:30:58.93\00:31:04.14
had an Islamic
school here in North America
00:31:04.17\00:31:06.89
that since become the first
00:31:06.92\00:31:08.39
to credit to Islamic
school in the nation.
00:31:08.42\00:31:11.25
And living with 50 Muslims there
00:31:11.28\00:31:13.46
was just such a
sweat time of fellowship
00:31:13.49\00:31:16.90
especially in
Berkeley, California
00:31:16.93\00:31:18.46
where the outside influences
are very different in the values
00:31:18.49\00:31:21.65
that we hold in
common with Muslims.
00:31:21.68\00:31:24.18
And spending that two
months living with Muslims
00:31:24.21\00:31:26.47
has given us friendships
that continue to this day
00:31:26.50\00:31:30.01
but a connecting point for
me with people of other faiths
00:31:30.04\00:31:34.53
and in this case
specifically Muslims
00:31:34.56\00:31:37.46
is been the environment.
00:31:37.49\00:31:40.16
And what the Lord
has done in my life is
00:31:40.19\00:31:41.73
He's taken that first
passion and that first interest
00:31:41.76\00:31:44.89
in conservation and
environmental things
00:31:44.92\00:31:48.15
and he is fusing it with the
other burden that He's given me
00:31:48.18\00:31:51.13
for communicating clearly
the Bible faith to Muslims.
00:31:51.16\00:31:54.90
And as I meet with the
Muslims there in that school
00:31:54.93\00:31:58.29
we learned of a
lecture that was taking place
00:31:58.32\00:32:00.51
on something
called permaculture.
00:32:00.54\00:32:02.85
We were all
interested in sustainable
00:32:02.88\00:32:04.84
agricultural or
biological agricultural
00:32:04.87\00:32:06.81
and living system
sustainability at large.
00:32:06.84\00:32:10.30
And his talk was
recommended to us
00:32:10.33\00:32:12.13
and so we went along to that
00:32:12.16\00:32:14.35
and it was September last year
that my wife and I stepped out
00:32:14.38\00:32:17.94
of full time ministry
to go back to Australia
00:32:17.97\00:32:21.32
and get further
education in this field
00:32:21.35\00:32:23.95
for the purpose of
developing a tent making skill
00:32:23.98\00:32:27.32
that can get me into countries
00:32:27.35\00:32:29.63
the are otherwise would
not be able to get into.
00:32:29.66\00:32:32.45
And it gives me a skill
in which I can serve others,
00:32:32.48\00:32:36.71
so that they can see Jesus.
00:32:36.74\00:32:39.44
And maybe like I did
desire to learn of Him
00:32:39.47\00:32:41.75
when I see Him in others
00:32:41.78\00:32:42.91
in the developing
work and an aid work.
00:32:42.94\00:32:47.92
And so just months after
finishing that education,
00:32:47.95\00:32:54.54
no, days after
finishing that education
00:32:54.57\00:32:58.75
my wife and I boarded a
plane to the Middle East
00:32:58.78\00:33:01.63
and we found ourselves
in this Islamic setting.
00:33:01.66\00:33:05.80
And what I shared that night
00:33:05.83\00:33:10.48
with the students and
the faculty of the seminary
00:33:10.51\00:33:15.25
gave me
opportunity to do an interview
00:33:15.28\00:33:17.23
for the school magazine there
00:33:17.26\00:33:19.12
and they
interviewed me from 9:30
00:33:19.15\00:33:21.10
till the wee
hours of the morning.
00:33:21.13\00:33:23.21
And when they ask me
if I could interview me
00:33:23.24\00:33:25.12
I wasn't about sustainable
agriculture and permaculture
00:33:25.15\00:33:29.61
if it was about my faith but it
became very obvious very quickly
00:33:29.64\00:33:33.69
that it was my faith
that they were interested in.
00:33:33.72\00:33:36.41
Because when I
was given 10 minutes
00:33:36.44\00:33:38.16
to share with
that unique audience
00:33:38.19\00:33:40.30
whatever was on my heart,
00:33:40.33\00:33:43.19
guess what I
choose to speak about?
00:33:43.22\00:33:46.07
It wasn't
premaculture, that was my faith.
00:33:46.10\00:33:50.82
And I was able to
build a relationship
00:33:50.85\00:33:52.64
over the three weeks that we
were there was the translator
00:33:52.67\00:33:57.33
and it wasn't until the last
night that I was in the country
00:33:57.36\00:34:00.97
that he begin to ask me
questions about my faith.
00:34:01.00\00:34:04.40
Now my wife, she
choose to wear the,
00:34:04.43\00:34:07.42
the conservative
dress that was there
00:34:07.45\00:34:09.05
which was the burqa
the fully black outfit
00:34:09.08\00:34:11.65
where all you can see
is, eye should shows in that.
00:34:11.68\00:34:15.21
And respect that, that
gained us in the community
00:34:15.24\00:34:18.47
gave me access and relationships
00:34:18.50\00:34:21.52
that I wouldn't
otherwise have had.
00:34:21.55\00:34:23.91
And there's a lesson
there for the young people here
00:34:23.94\00:34:27.10
especially young brothers.
00:34:27.13\00:34:29.50
The wife that you
prayerfully choose
00:34:29.53\00:34:32.82
can build up or
tear down your ministry.
00:34:32.85\00:34:36.17
And so I encourage
you to prayerfully choose
00:34:36.20\00:34:39.66
when you're
making that decision.
00:34:39.69\00:34:42.99
Now I was able the relationship
with this translator
00:34:43.02\00:34:45.76
and at 1 a.m. in the morning
00:34:45.79\00:34:47.05
we had to end our
discussion about faith
00:34:47.08\00:34:49.17
because I still
had to pack my bags
00:34:49.20\00:34:51.72
and both of our wives had
fallen asleep in the other room
00:34:51.75\00:34:54.35
waiting for us
to finish talking.
00:34:54.38\00:34:57.16
But we agreed that when
he returned to Australia--
00:34:57.19\00:35:00.42
he was from
Australia over there studying
00:35:00.45\00:35:03.26
that we would
continue this conversation
00:35:03.29\00:35:05.29
because he developed an interest
in how we understood Jesus
00:35:05.32\00:35:09.29
because of the
differences that he saw
00:35:09.32\00:35:11.70
in our lives from other
Christians that he knew.
00:35:11.73\00:35:14.55
And he also developed
an interest in learning
00:35:14.58\00:35:16.50
the prophetic
warnings that I spoke of
00:35:16.53\00:35:19.09
before that larger audience.
00:35:19.12\00:35:23.96
And so I want to comment to you
00:35:23.99\00:35:26.75
the blessings that
come from interacting
00:35:26.78\00:35:28.93
with people of
other faiths and cultures.
00:35:28.96\00:35:31.79
The things you see,
the things you learn,
00:35:31.82\00:35:33.76
the questions they ask it
will give you a new perspective
00:35:33.79\00:35:38.63
helping you to see
relevance in our message
00:35:38.66\00:35:41.35
and to study it deeper and
to grow in your understanding.
00:35:41.38\00:35:45.85
And also I want
to comment to you
00:35:45.88\00:35:47.65
what Spirit of
Prophecy calls welfare ministry.
00:35:47.68\00:35:51.16
Some people use welfare
ministry or humanitarian work,
00:35:51.19\00:35:54.31
ablutions
movements some what not
00:35:54.34\00:35:56.27
as an end in themselves
00:35:56.30\00:35:58.00
but the legitimate ways
that we can get involved
00:35:58.03\00:36:00.60
and partner with
people of other faiths
00:36:00.63\00:36:02.62
to built relationships
for a greater purpose
00:36:02.65\00:36:06.40
that's been my experience
00:36:06.43\00:36:07.77
and I think there is a
lot of people in this room
00:36:07.80\00:36:09.68
and this
audience that are talented
00:36:09.71\00:36:11.93
and have things to
share in that area.
00:36:11.96\00:36:15.08
We can't all be
in full time ministry
00:36:15.11\00:36:16.94
but we can all be tent makers
00:36:16.97\00:36:18.85
and there is world
to win out there yet.
00:36:18.88\00:36:23.47
As I prayed and
prepared for this message
00:36:23.50\00:36:27.25
a real burden is come upon
me to see and do whatever I can
00:36:27.28\00:36:32.28
to help revive a missionary
culture in our church.
00:36:32.31\00:36:37.97
And they're four things that
I've seen in the Book of Acts
00:36:38.00\00:36:40.40
and I've read about
it in Sprit of Prophecy
00:36:40.43\00:36:41.97
and as I look back
over my own experience
00:36:42.00\00:36:44.01
I say the Lord has led me
through these four activities.
00:36:44.04\00:36:48.97
And these four activities
are what made the Book of Acts
00:36:49.00\00:36:52.77
the church in the Book of Acts
00:36:52.80\00:36:54.20
a missionary movement
that we should still be.
00:36:54.23\00:36:57.73
See revival and reformation
is not named in itself
00:36:57.76\00:37:00.61
the capstone or the finish line
00:37:00.64\00:37:02.46
or the fruit of revival
and reformation is missions.
00:37:02.49\00:37:07.98
And even of evangelism
ministering to people locally
00:37:08.01\00:37:12.00
who may have heard
of the gospel before
00:37:12.03\00:37:14.14
or is hearing of
it for second time
00:37:14.17\00:37:16.14
is part of a bigger picture
00:37:16.17\00:37:18.47
and that's of the whole world
learning about Biblical faith.
00:37:18.50\00:37:25.05
And these four things are
these. The first is prayer.
00:37:25.08\00:37:30.48
Spirit of
Prophecy poetically says
00:37:30.51\00:37:34.81
that our prayer should
follow the servants of God
00:37:34.84\00:37:37.45
like a sharp sickle
into the harvest field.
00:37:37.48\00:37:42.29
Now why do I think
that a missionary culture
00:37:42.32\00:37:44.92
needs to be
revived in our church?
00:37:44.95\00:37:47.70
Well, let me
demonstrate by asking you this.
00:37:47.73\00:37:50.68
How many of you here
regularly pray for a missionary
00:37:50.71\00:37:55.00
that's working among
some rich people groups?
00:37:55.03\00:37:57.09
By a show of
hands how many of you
00:37:57.12\00:37:59.54
regularly pray for a missionary?
00:37:59.57\00:38:03.48
Put them up high.
00:38:03.51\00:38:05.27
Not to embrace
people, not to boast
00:38:05.30\00:38:08.33
but just so we can see
00:38:08.36\00:38:09.47
that we are not what
the Book of Acts church is
00:38:09.50\00:38:14.14
that we are of one accord
00:38:14.17\00:38:15.20
that we are praying
together in the upper room
00:38:15.23\00:38:17.43
and that's why
they got the spirit
00:38:17.46\00:38:20.64
and we need the
spirit for this work.
00:38:20.67\00:38:25.33
The second is offerings
00:38:25.36\00:38:26.84
and people are kind of
shy to talk about money.
00:38:26.87\00:38:30.31
But my
experience is with Muslims
00:38:30.34\00:38:32.01
and with in
bordering in Islamic countries
00:38:32.04\00:38:33.76
has got me over that social fopa
00:38:33.79\00:38:37.48
and I want to talk
to you about money.
00:38:37.51\00:38:40.50
See the sanctuary
service in the Old Testament
00:38:40.53\00:38:43.08
was the vehicle for evangelism
00:38:43.11\00:38:45.17
and for missions
for the Hebrew people.
00:38:45.20\00:38:48.25
And we learn as in
the study of the sanctuary
00:38:48.28\00:38:51.98
that the Hebrew people gave
up to one-forth of their income
00:38:52.01\00:38:58.30
for the sustaining and
the work of the sanctuary.
00:38:58.33\00:39:02.81
And if you read in
Patriarchs and Prophets
00:39:02.84\00:39:05.05
the chapter on
tithe and offerings
00:39:05.08\00:39:08.44
Ellen White says
that when you read of this
00:39:08.47\00:39:11.37
you would think that would
bring the people to poverty.
00:39:11.40\00:39:15.19
But on the country the faithful
observance of these regulations
00:39:15.22\00:39:18.65
was one of the
conditions of their prosperity.
00:39:18.68\00:39:21.71
She goes on the say
that the work of the gospel
00:39:21.74\00:39:23.97
as it widens requires
greater provisions to sustain it
00:39:24.00\00:39:30.65
than was called for anciently.
00:39:30.68\00:39:33.35
And this makes the
Lord of tithes and offerings
00:39:33.38\00:39:35.66
of even more urgent necessity
now than in the Hebrew economy.
00:39:35.69\00:39:41.43
Now hear that,
one-forth of the income
00:39:41.46\00:39:44.72
of the Hebrew people
was to go to the sanctuary
00:39:44.75\00:39:47.61
so that the message
could go to the world.
00:39:47.64\00:39:50.03
And as the work grows
the resources required grows.
00:39:50.06\00:39:58.03
Again not to boast but
just to exhort you to good works
00:39:58.06\00:40:02.85
maybe to encourage you
00:40:02.88\00:40:05.05
I can personally
testify that this is true.
00:40:05.08\00:40:08.63
When I read this
months after being Baptize
00:40:08.66\00:40:11.59
I committed in
prayer to give one quarter
00:40:11.62\00:40:15.57
of meagerly bible worker salary
00:40:15.60\00:40:18.25
to missions
through tithe and offering.
00:40:18.28\00:40:22.12
And for seven
years as a Bible worker
00:40:22.15\00:40:28.92
and as someone in
faith base ministry
00:40:28.95\00:40:31.20
on small stipend I
never went without.
00:40:31.23\00:40:36.25
And I committed to do
that until I got married
00:40:36.28\00:40:38.73
when I would
prayerfully reconsider
00:40:38.76\00:40:40.12
that commitment with my wife.
00:40:40.15\00:40:43.98
In 1912, Adventist gave
00:40:44.01\00:40:46.85
three percent of
their income to missions.
00:40:46.88\00:40:50.12
So for every $1000
that an Adventist made
00:40:50.15\00:40:52.72
they've gave $30 to missions.
00:40:52.75\00:40:55.73
In the year 2010, every
$1000 that an Adventist made
00:40:55.76\00:41:03.44
$3.50 made it into missions.
00:41:03.47\00:41:09.31
Do I need to say
anything more to convince us
00:41:09.34\00:41:13.43
that in order for us to hasten
the second coming of Christ
00:41:13.46\00:41:17.00
we need to do
something in our church,
00:41:17.03\00:41:20.17
we need to do
something personally
00:41:20.20\00:41:22.44
to revive the
missionary culture,
00:41:22.47\00:41:24.98
that saw in the life
time of the earlier apostles
00:41:25.01\00:41:28.55
the message go to the
whole world to every creature.
00:41:28.58\00:41:33.45
We need to
pray, we need to give.
00:41:33.48\00:41:36.75
And there is another example,
00:41:36.78\00:41:38.14
there is a model
in the Book of Acts
00:41:38.17\00:41:39.66
and it's reiterated
in Spirit if Prophecy
00:41:39.69\00:41:42.21
in the Book of
Evangelism on page 569
00:41:42.24\00:41:44.74
where this model for
missionary work is given.
00:41:44.77\00:41:48.25
She says that
in God's providence
00:41:48.28\00:41:50.39
He's brought people to very door
00:41:50.42\00:41:53.78
that they might receive
the message for this time
00:41:53.81\00:41:56.96
and return to their
kinsfolk and friends
00:41:56.99\00:42:00.26
in their country of
origin and share it with them.
00:42:00.29\00:42:04.73
I want to give
some of you a vision
00:42:04.76\00:42:08.26
for the work that you can do in
finishing the great commission
00:42:08.29\00:42:14.01
and reaching
unreached people groups
00:42:14.04\00:42:15.70
from right here in America.
00:42:15.73\00:42:17.84
How many of you would be willing
to move to Kabul, Afghanistan
00:42:17.87\00:42:21.45
and give you life to missions?
00:42:21.48\00:42:24.69
I see one hand. Praise the Lord.
00:42:24.72\00:42:26.31
I see a few. Praise the Lord.
00:42:26.34\00:42:28.57
But how many
more of you would be
00:42:28.60\00:42:30.15
willing to move to
Fremont, California
00:42:30.18\00:42:33.02
the second largest
Afghani city in the world?
00:42:33.05\00:42:37.97
How many people here
would move to California?
00:42:38.00\00:42:40.94
Yeah, I could be convinced to
move to California a lot quicker
00:42:40.97\00:42:44.12
than I could be convinced
to move to Afghanistan.
00:42:44.15\00:42:47.60
There is
opportunity at your door
00:42:47.63\00:42:50.08
to get involved in reaching
unreached people groups.
00:42:50.11\00:42:54.81
Everyone can
pray, everyone can give,
00:42:54.84\00:42:58.19
even without you moving
yourself and your family
00:42:58.22\00:43:00.80
to foreign mission fields
00:43:00.83\00:43:02.67
if you are awake
to the opportunities
00:43:02.70\00:43:05.19
that God is giving you to be
a part of the great commission
00:43:05.22\00:43:09.68
than you can do something here
00:43:09.71\00:43:12.49
ministering to immigrants,
helping refugees get settled.
00:43:12.52\00:43:16.18
You can do a powerful work.
00:43:16.21\00:43:18.32
One of our Muslim
friends in Michigan,
00:43:18.35\00:43:21.86
we're doing
Bible studies with her
00:43:21.89\00:43:23.80
and she would share
everything that she learn for us
00:43:23.83\00:43:25.89
with her father
who is from Syria.
00:43:25.92\00:43:28.81
When my wife and
I had opportunity
00:43:28.84\00:43:30.41
to go to the Middle East we
made a point of visiting him.
00:43:30.44\00:43:33.34
And when we walked into his home
00:43:33.37\00:43:36.86
recipients of that
traditional Arab hospitality
00:43:36.89\00:43:40.23
it was like picking up our
friendship with his daughter.
00:43:40.26\00:43:45.20
And the other, fourth point
00:43:49.96\00:43:52.14
of course is going
as foreign missionary.
00:43:52.17\00:43:57.43
Now I am gonna
make an appeal here
00:43:57.46\00:43:58.79
but I'm not
unrealistic about this.
00:43:58.82\00:44:00.57
There was 120
disciples in the upper room
00:44:00.60\00:44:06.02
when the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit took place.
00:44:06.05\00:44:09.86
But only handful of those 129
00:44:09.89\00:44:12.29
who ever mentioned
in the Book of Acts
00:44:12.32\00:44:13.94
is going abroad and reaching
unreached people groups.
00:44:13.97\00:44:17.59
Many of them are
involved in evangelism.
00:44:17.62\00:44:19.51
Peter, James and
John stayed behind
00:44:19.54\00:44:22.17
and they would
witness to the people
00:44:22.20\00:44:23.77
that came to the
religious holidays and festivals
00:44:23.80\00:44:26.61
and they would take part in
that third point by doing that.
00:44:26.64\00:44:30.00
Meeting people
here in God's providence
00:44:30.03\00:44:32.02
and they took the message back
00:44:32.05\00:44:33.53
much like Philip
with the Ethiopian.
00:44:33.56\00:44:36.09
But only a few
names are mentioned
00:44:36.12\00:44:38.85
that went to Asia
or went to Macedonia
00:44:38.88\00:44:40.91
or went far to reach
unreached people groups.
00:44:40.94\00:44:43.96
And so when I make this appeal
00:44:43.99\00:44:45.25
I am not expecting
that you will come forward.
00:44:45.28\00:44:49.14
I don't want you
to all come forward
00:44:49.17\00:44:51.82
because an appeal in
a church or in a group
00:44:51.85\00:44:54.89
that as missionary
culture looks like this.
00:44:54.92\00:44:58.89
See in 1910, D. L. Moody made
an appeal for mission volunteers
00:44:58.92\00:45:03.64
and 100 people came to the
altar and a 100 people went.
00:45:03.67\00:45:09.23
What an appeal
looks like in church
00:45:09.26\00:45:11.46
that needs revival of
missionary culture is GYC 2004.
00:45:11.49\00:45:16.47
An appeal is made for people
to give a tithe of their lives
00:45:16.50\00:45:19.79
and 204 people come to
the front of this convention
00:45:19.82\00:45:23.55
may be some of you came forward.
00:45:23.58\00:45:25.52
And guess how many
went eight years later. One.
00:45:25.55\00:45:32.25
We need a revival of
missionary culture in our church
00:45:32.28\00:45:36.98
because the Lord wants to come.
00:45:37.01\00:45:39.50
One of my favorite
lyrics written by friend says,
00:45:39.53\00:45:42.22
if we can hurt and feel and love
00:45:42.25\00:45:46.25
how much more can God above.
00:45:46.28\00:45:48.63
And day after day there
is suffering in this earth
00:45:48.66\00:45:51.89
and we have part to
play in finishing that,
00:45:51.92\00:45:54.71
hastening the
second coming of Christ.
00:45:54.74\00:45:57.16
But what we're doing?
00:45:57.19\00:46:00.36
As GYC, we have an
opportunity to lead by example
00:46:00.39\00:46:08.36
to demonstrate
to our home churches
00:46:08.39\00:46:12.11
to the world church what
missionary culture looks like.
00:46:12.14\00:46:18.04
And so with just a
short time to go here
00:46:18.07\00:46:20.17
I just want to ask for
people that would be willing
00:46:20.20\00:46:26.59
to do long term missions to
stand and come to the front.
00:46:26.62\00:46:30.57
I am talking three to
seven years of your life.
00:46:30.60\00:46:37.50
You don't have to come
forward to make me feel better.
00:46:37.53\00:46:41.22
I made an appeal
for missions one time
00:46:41.25\00:46:43.30
in a church
here in North America
00:46:43.33\00:46:45.73
and it was only at the very
end one little girl stood up.
00:46:45.76\00:46:51.09
Not a single adult, not a
single young persons stood up
00:46:51.12\00:46:54.25
and I rejoice for that
00:46:54.28\00:46:55.45
because I preferred to
have one little girl standup
00:46:55.48\00:46:58.31
then 204 people come forward,
00:46:58.34\00:47:00.48
make a commitment
that they don't keep.
00:47:00.51\00:47:03.38
Now as you come to the front
00:47:03.41\00:47:04.72
if this is something the Lord
is being speaking to you about,
00:47:04.75\00:47:07.73
if this is something
that you're serious about.
00:47:07.76\00:47:10.71
The GYC mission's
team is at the front here
00:47:10.74\00:47:13.88
and they are committed
to helping you find a way
00:47:13.91\00:47:17.09
and a place to serve
unreached people groups.
00:47:17.12\00:47:21.89
And I want you to turn around
00:47:21.92\00:47:22.95
and look at this
audience if you've come forward.
00:47:22.98\00:47:27.15
And if you are willing
to pray for these people
00:47:27.18\00:47:30.58
as you learn about
how God's leading them
00:47:30.61\00:47:35.00
and to give sacrificially
and prayerfully consider
00:47:35.03\00:47:39.26
even giving a
quarter of your income
00:47:39.29\00:47:41.24
to support
missions to the unreached
00:47:41.27\00:47:43.51
I want you to stand and
show your support for them.
00:47:43.54\00:47:46.60
But if you stand
for this commitment
00:47:46.63\00:47:48.41
the Lord says it
and He hold you to it.
00:47:48.44\00:47:51.57
You have to answer for it.
00:47:51.60\00:47:56.53
This is the kind of
response I expected from GYC.
00:47:56.56\00:48:00.31
But when we look back in
the history of the moment
00:48:00.34\00:48:03.17
why don't we see more missions.
00:48:03.20\00:48:05.76
Let's use this
as a turning point
00:48:05.79\00:48:08.37
to revive a
missionary culture in the church
00:48:08.40\00:48:11.97
and let say all these
decisions with prayer.
00:48:12.00\00:48:17.09
Father in Heaven,
Lord, you are great God
00:48:17.12\00:48:21.31
and You've called us
to a great commission
00:48:21.34\00:48:22.98
and we need Your spirit.
00:48:23.01\00:48:26.22
We are part of the world church
00:48:26.25\00:48:27.94
that Lord, is not
worse off than us.
00:48:27.97\00:48:34.93
Lord, I pray that the people
that have come to the front here
00:48:34.96\00:48:38.70
would keep their commitment
that they would prayerfully
00:48:38.73\00:48:41.80
be lead by You into a place
00:48:41.83\00:48:44.01
where people have
never seen and heard
00:48:44.04\00:48:46.19
the Biblical picture of You.
00:48:46.22\00:48:48.82
And the people
that have stood up
00:48:48.85\00:48:50.14
pray that you would bless their
businesses, bless their careers,
00:48:50.17\00:48:56.34
keep them faithful
in their prayer life
00:48:56.37\00:48:58.21
and even lay upon
them, Lord, commitment
00:48:58.24\00:49:01.10
to move to a place where
they can minister to immigrants
00:49:01.13\00:49:05.12
and help refugees settled
00:49:05.15\00:49:06.47
and be a part of the
great commission that way.
00:49:06.50\00:49:10.38
Lord, I pray that this message
00:49:10.41\00:49:13.26
and the decisions
that are made here
00:49:13.29\00:49:14.56
would be sealed by Your spirit
00:49:14.59\00:49:16.41
and that it
would be the beginning
00:49:16.44\00:49:17.76
of the revival of a missionary
culture in our church.
00:49:17.79\00:49:21.27
And I pray these things
humbly in Jesus name. Amen.
00:49:21.30\00:49:24.82